We
are all concerned about the mass media’s influence on children.
Certainly
the media help reinforce some widespread misconceptions, and people often act
on perception rather than reality.
For
example: Violence in videos and on TV helps create the impression that our
neighborhoods are dangerous places, and we need guns, police, and the military
to protect us.
Detailed
reports of crime and terror create the perception among young and old alike
that the world is unsafe. As a result, more people stay home, especially in
urban areas, or act in a more guarded way.
Ironically,
this isolation by law-abiding citizens actually helps make areas less safe.
News
programs generally lead off with the most violent occurrence of the day — as
opposed to less newsworthy acts of ordinary kindness, courage, and friendship.
This
gives a distorted view of just how much violence occurs around us.
Children
who understand this distortion are better prepared to deal with the real world.
They
understand that news reports are merely samplings of what is going on in the
streets and around the world.
They
understand that decisions on editing and story selection are made from
thousands of choices, and are made according to professional standards of both
news and entertainment value.
It
is the oddity that is “new” and therefore considered news, rather than acts
that are commonplace. And that is exactly the problem.
